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VOL. LXIX? NO. 21
FRANKLIN, N. C., THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1954
TWELVE PAGES
BOARD BUYS
TESENTEE
CAMP LAND
Dr. Morgan Discloses
Plans For New Camp
Lumpkin For Scouts
A large tract of land in the
Tesentee section Tuesday was
purchased by the Camp Lump
kin board of trustees for the
site of a new camp for boy and
girl Scouts.
The old camp site at Wayah
Valley was sold some three
years ago by the board because
of its small size and unsuitable
terrain.
Dr. A. Rufus Morgan, of
Franklin, board chairman, dis
closed the purchase of roughly
100 acres of land on the head
waters of Nichols Branch from
T. W. Angel, Jr
He said the first step toward
building a new camp will be
the installation of sanitary fa
cilities and construction of a
dam for a camp lake. This
should get under way at an
early date.
Mrs. A. A. Siler, of Franklin,
is secretary-treasurer of the
board, which is composed of
members from Macon, Swain,
Cherokee, and Buncombe.
Candidates
Are Against
Secrecy Law
Macon's two candidates run
ning for the legislature in the
May 29 Democratic primary ? C.
Banks Finger and G. L. Houk ?
are both opposed to the 1953
legislature's "secrecy law".
In interviews yesterday (Wed
nesday) both men said they
would vote for repeal of the
"law", if successful in the race
for the house seat.
"I thought it was a tempest
in a teapot", Mr. Houk said,
"that could have been handled
in a more satisfactory manner.
I see no reason for the law
ihen or now." ,
Mr. Finger declared: "I'm op
posed to the law, but am in
favor of more ethics in news
reporting as a whole for the
protection of individual rights.
I understand the law was or
iginally passed to control two
or three reporters."
BOOTH OPENS
The Main Street information
booth operated by the Frank
lin Chamber of Commerce open
ed Monday as the commerce
body moved all-out to raise its
$3,200 operating quota for 1954
55.
In announcing the opening of
the booth. President W. W.
Reeves said the organization
hopes to keep it open daily
from 9 a. m. to 10 p m. How
ever. the success of this de
pends on the membership drive
now under way. If the quota
Is not reached, he explained,
the two persons needed to keep
the booth cannot be hired.
B. L. McGlamery is heading
this year's drive.
The chamber of commerce
also ;s revising the tourist ac
commodation folder. New fea
tures include listings of real
estate men and apartments.
County Agent S. W. Mendenhall Passes
Thursday At Franklin Home At Age 53
S. W. Mendenhall
200 Wolf Barbecue Tuesday
At FJF.A. FafchernSon Meal
M&ccm B?.pt;5ts
Lead Region Its
Church Features
Macon County Ted the field
in both attendance and tourna- .
ments at the regional Baptist |
Training Union Convention Fri- |
day and Saturday.
At the two-day convention, !
held at the First Baptist Church,
the local association had 147
persons present, representing 14
churches.
Total registration from the
six associations in the region \
was 320, with 39 churches rep- j
resented. The six associations
include Macon, Tennessee Riv
er, Tuckaseigee, Western Caro
lina, West Liberty, and Chero
kee.
Principal speaker of the con
vention was Dr. P L. Elliott,
president of Gardner-Webb
College, Boiling Springs. A ca
pacity audience, estimated at
more than 350. heard the pres- j
ident's Friday night address on
"Keepers of the Faith".
At an election of officers for
1954-55 Saturday morning, the
following from the Macon asso
ciation were named to- posts:
Everette White, associate d^rec- j
tor; Mrs. Herman Mason, sec
retary; Mrs. Ray Bennett, Young
People's leader.
The local association topped
the other five in the regional
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 6
Some 200 boys, fathers, and I
russts wolfed a barbecue dinner I
T ,'.?Pday night at the annual 1
Franklin Future Farmers of I
America Father-Son Banquet j
and then settled back in their
chairs lor a brief bit o! enter
tainment.
Wayne Stewart served as
master of ceremonies for the
dinner, held in the yard at the
vocational building.
Appearing on the program
were Bobby Downs, Bobby Joe
Raby, J. L. Ledford. Bobby
Teague, Ted Kirkland, Garreth
Hughes, Preleau Crawford, Leo
Mclntyre, Bert Crawford, James
Euchanan, Harold Buchanan,
and Colbert Henson.
In reviewing F.F.A. accom
plishments for the year. Pre
leau Craw old reported the boys
netted $19,702.21 from projects
The following seniors were
introduced by Lamar Houston:
Jerry Sutton, Max Morgan, Jack
Cabe, Jim Ayers, James Buch
anan, Harold Buchanan, Wayne
Stewart, Colbert Henson. Wayne
Ledford, G. D. Buchanan, Gene
Mashburn. Doyle Henson, Frank
Euchanan, Victor Teague, Doug
las Cooley, Richard Gibson,
Ray Williams, Jim Webb, Pre
leau Crawford, Clifton Young,
Charles Rickman, Adolph Con
!ey, Bill Bradley, Garreth
II ghes, Fred Deal, and Pete
Set.-er. |
'Opsrat.io^ 'lye Opener' Staged Here
Monday To Show County's Activities
"Operation Eye Opener", stag
ed to show Franklin young peo
ple that Macon County is far
from "dead" and has much to
i offer,' clicked off smoothly
Tu".cday as more than 100 grad
uating seniors tor. ed businesses
! and industrial piants over the
county.
The all-day tour ? with time
out 'cr tvnch at the Carson
picnic area ? was arranged by
the Franklin Jaycees with the
cooperation of Franklin school
c^licitUo.
? The whole idea behind our
orOject." Andrew Jones, Jaycee
in c'large. explained, "ijr^eon- !
vines our young people Macon
"?.iii'ify has a host of opportun
ities ior them and is not 'dead'
as some have been led to be
lieve."
With young people leaving to
seek employment elsewhere, the
j county is losing "its greatest
asset", the chairman added.
"We hope that 'Operation Eye
Opener' has successfully corn
s'? ~ xvc> ^
t*?H t nut e ov J. r. ttrady
'TEEN-AGE ROAD-E-O1 WINNERS were Jwrette Led ford and Miss Mildred ChikTers, Frank
lin High students Young Led ford, who scored 414 out of a possible 500 points on the written
and driving tests in the Jaycee-sponsored event Wednesday of last week, will compete In the
state-wide event In Charlotte June 12. The winners are shown receiving certificates from the
Jaycee co-chairmen. Dr. J. L. Hill (left) and John Cogan.
Sam W. Mendenhall, a Guil
ford County native and county
agent here since 1936, died un
expectedly at his home on Har
rison Avenue last Thursday
night about 10 o'clock.
Mr. Mendenhall, who was 53,
recently returned to his office
on a limited schedule, following
a series of heart attacks in
January His wife said he was
preparing for bed when strick
en.
Funeral services for the coun
ty agent, whose guidance is
largely responsible for Macon be
ing among the top agricultural
counties in the state, were con
ducted Saturday at 11 a. m. at
the Franklin Methodist Church.
Officiating were the Rev. C. E.
Murray, pastor, and the Rev.
W. Jackson Huneycutt, superin
tendent of the Waynesville
Methodist District. Burial was
in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Mr. Mendenhall's contribu
tions to his community were
varied and many, and his de
votion to duty was untiring In
1950 he served as president of
the County Farm Agents Asso
ciation of the Western district;
he was a past president of the
Franklin Rotary Club; and a
member of the Franklin Meth
odist Church, superintendent of
*he Sunday School, and chair
man of the board of stewards.
But the one thing that stands
as a monument to his unceas
ing efforts is the Macon Coun
ty Rural Development Program.
Although always in the back
ground, where he chose to re
main in his air of easy-going
modesty, he was the workhorse
behind the program, which now
has 21 communities actively
participating.
A 1923 graduate of N. C. State
College, Mr. Mendenhall joined
the extension service in 1935,
after operating the Dixie Dair
ies In Guilford in partnership
with his brother, and then
working for Pet Milk Company
which purchased the business.
He served briefly as assistant
SEE NO. 3. PAGE 12
ANGEL !5 NEW
LIONS LEADER
Succeeds Hooker;
Club Installation
Slated For June 28
Elbert Angel, of Franklin, is
the new president of the Frank
lin Lions Club succeeding W. K.
(Ken i Hooker.
Others named to 1954-55 posts
in the club are Jack Angel,
first vice-president; C. Banks
Finger, second vice-president:
Robert Korte, third vice-presi
dent; B. B. Scott, secretary;
Farrell Penland, treasurer; John
Davis, Lion Tamer; Jim Good
win, Tail Twister: and Andrew
Jones and Fred Dowdlc, direct
ors.
The new officers will be in
stalled June 28.
Mrs. Renshaw
New President
Of Local P.T.A.
Mrs. E. W. Renshaw Monday
night was elected president of
the Franklin P.TA. for 1954-55.
succeeding Mrs. Margaret Bul
gin.
Named to serve with her are
Edwin T. Williams, vice-presi
dent, Mrs. Lawrence Patton,
secretapy, and Mrs. John Craw
ford, treasurer.
A program was presented by
ttie band and movies of the re
cent elementary operettas were
shown.
IUVERVIEW EVENT
Sunday will be decoration day
at the Rlverview Methodist
Church. Dinner will be served.
CAKE WALK AND SUPPER
The Iotla P.T.A will sponsor
a box supper and cake walk to
morrow i Friday I night at the
school, beginning at 8 o'clock.
Music will be by Sidney Clay,
Jess Corbin, and Hunter Young.
The public iS invited.
IOTLA PTA MEETING
Eighth grade graduation ex
ercises will feature a meeting
of the Iotla P.T.A. .Monday
night at 7:30 o'clock, It has
been announced. New officers
for 1954-55 will be installed also.
F. EDWARDS 1
DIES FRIDAY
IN HIGHLANDS
Rites For Former
School Board Man
Conducted Saturday
Fred A. Edwards, a native of
Highlands and former member
of the County Board of Educa
tion, died Friday morning at
the Highlands Community Hos
pital.
The well-known merchant,
and civic leader, who was 57,
had been in declining health
for more than a year and ser
iously 111 for the past seven
months.
Funeral services for Mr. Ed
wards, who had been in the
mercantile business in High
lands since 1916, were conduct
ed Saturday afternoon at 4
o'clock at the Episcopal Church
of the Incarnation by Dr. A.
Rufus Morgan, rector, and the
Rev. Robert E. Early, pastor of
the Highlands Methodist
Church Burial was in the Horse
Cove Cemetery. Masonic rites i
were conducted at the grave- [
side.
Born in Horse Cove October,
29, 1896, Mr. Edwards was the
son of Alex G. and Mrs. Al
pha Speed Edwards. December j
2, 1917, he was married to Miss
Canty Picklesimer, of White
side Cove, at the old Edwards
home, Rocky Grove Farm, in
Horse Cove. He served on the
County Board of Education for
one term ( 1949-51 > , was a Ma
son. and director of the High
lands branch of the Jackson
County Bank.
He is survived by his wife;
j a daughter, Mrs. Jack W. Brock
way, of Grenville, S. C.; two
brothers, John W. and Ed F.
Edwards, both of Highlands;
two sisters, Mrs. A. J. Dillard,
of Dillard, Ga., Route 1. and
Miss Mary Edwards, of High
lands; and two grandchildren.
Active pallbearers, hunting
friends of Mr. Edwards, were
Charlie Potts, Edward Potts.
Doyie Owens, Jeter Buchanan,
and John Burnette. Honorary
pallbearers were businessmen of
Highlands.
Arrangements were under the
direction of Bryant Funeral
Home.
Out-of-town members of the
family attending the funeral
were E. A. Picklesimer and son,
Jimmy, of Newark, N. J.. Mr.
and Mrs. W T. Picklesimer. of
Charlotte, and Mr. and Mrs. N.
I A. Miller, of Brevard.
Last Minute
Items
Officers and bloodhounds j
are scouring the River Bend I
area for two ronviets who <
escaped from a road sang [
early yesterday (Wednesday) I
morning.
The two were identified as ]
Milton Pete Austin, 23, of
Op.stonia, and Jerry I.ooper.
17, of Rockingham. Roth are
serving terms at the Maton
Prison Camp for larceny
Austin was wearing brown
prison clothes and I.ooper was
dressed in "stripes".
Receives Award
Charlie L-. iJaeio Shope, for
estry aid at the Coweeta Hyclro
lo??ic Laboratory. Tuesday re
ceived a sp?cial award in Wash
ington, D. C., lor his work at
the laboratory.
Further details of his honor
will be published next week.
Murray New
Party Head
Of County
Frank I Murray, Sr., of Frank
lin, is the new chairman of
the Macon Democratic party.
He was elected to succeed Jess
Shope, of Franklin, Route 1. at
a party meeting Saturday after
noon at the county courthouse.
Mr. Murray was picked by the
executive committee, which is
composed of the chairmen of
the 12 precincts in the county.
Miss Lassie Kelly was elected
vice-chairman and Mrs. Lester
Conley secretary.
Precinct chairmen are T. T.
Love, Franklin; Harold Cabe.
Millshoal: Alex Arnold, Ellijay:
A. B. Potts, Sugarfork: Arthur
Potts, Highlands; Ray Dryman.
Flats; Jess Norton. Smithbridge;
Eugene Crawford. Cartooge
chaye; Neville Baldwin, Nanta
hala No. 1; Ray Shields, Nanta
hala No. 2; Robert Parrish
Burningtown; and Frank Gib
son, Cowee
Those named as delegates to
the state party convention in
Raleigh May 20 include Clyde
West, Sheriff J Harry Thomas.
W. E. (Gene) Baldwin, chair
man of the Board of Countv
Commissioners. Tom Moore, Lee
Barnard, J. D. Gibson, Miss
Lassie Kelly, Ed Duval! . Harold
Cabe, Alex Arnold. Ralph Nor
ton, A. B. Slagle. Eugene Nor
ton. Robert Parrish. Ed Potts.
Walter Bryson, Erwin Patton, E.
J. Whitmire, and Bob S. Sloan.
RIYERVIEW HOMECOMING
A homecoming and decoration
is planned Sunday at the River
view Methodist Church, it has
been announced. The Rev. Al
bert F. Gordon, pastor, will
preach. Lunch will Be served on
the grounds.
HIGH SCHOOLS
TO GRADUATE
128 STUDENTS
Franklin, Highlands
Plan Exercise Next
Week; Nantahala??
I One hundred twenty-eight
I seniors of the Franklin and
i Highlands high schools are
candidates for diplomas at ex
ercise next week.
Nantahala High graduates
and commencement plans are
not known Principal Warren
H. Deyermond was contacted
twire, but the information was
not received.
The Franklin baccalaureate
sermon is planned Sunday night
at 7 o'clock; commencement ex
ercises Tuesday afternoon at 5
o'clock. Both are scheduled for
Macon Theatre.
Highlands seniors will hear
the baccalureate sermon Satur
day at 8 p. m., and commence
ment exercises are set for next
Thursday evening at the same
hour in the school auditorium
Franklin High
The Rev. Bryan Hatchett has
been selected by the graduating
class at Franklin High School
to deliver the baccalaureate
sermon
Diplomas at the commence
ment exercises will be conferred
by County School Supt. Holland
I McSwain. Awards will be pre
I s^nted by Principal Ralph L.
Smith.
This year, the boys outnum
ber the girls in the graduating
class, a situation usually re
versed. Sixty-four boys and 51
iiirls are candidates for diplo
m n c
ATTEND MEETING
H W. Cabe, cashier of The
Bank of Franklin, and Verlon
E. Swafford, member of the
bank board of directors, attend
ed the State Bankers Conven
tion in Pinehurst last week.
TELLICO HOMECOMING
A "homecoming and decoration
is scheduled Sunday at the Tel
lico Baptist Church, beginning
at 10 a. m., it has been an
nounced. A picnic lunch will be
served at noon and in the after
noon the fourth Sunday sing
will be held. All singers and
the public are invited.
HOMECOMING POSTPONED
The homecoming of the Beth
el Methodist Church has been
postponed from the first Sun
day in June to the second Sun
day in June 'June 13 1, it has
been announced. . '
Highlands High
The Rev. jack Davidson, of
Pendleton, S. C . will deliver
the baccalaureate sermon to the
13 members of the Highlands
graduating class at the High
lands Methodist Church.
Dean W. B. Harrill. of West
ern Carolina College. Cullowhee,
will be the main speaker at the
commencement exercise.
Miss Sue Hopper, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Pratt McClure is
valedictorian, pnd Miss Geral
dine James, daughter of Mrs.
Lawton James, is salutatorian.
Members of the graduating
class are Jane Anderson. Lester
Carver, Mary Anne Edwards,
Raymond Cleveland, Joanne
Hicks, Elaine Hopper, Sue Hop
per. Geraldine James. Herbert
| James, Emily Potts, Mary Jo
Newton, Alvin Crowe. Jr.. and
I Mavis McCall.
Comes To Franklin Hi^h
For Annual Junior-Senior Event
An enchanting Hawaiian
night-? complete with a star
filled sky. sandy beach, palm
trees, and bambo ? was trans
planted in the Franklin High
caf*t?rifl Saturday night for the
annual Junior-Senior Banquet
And it was a colorful evening
of "going native" for the hun
dreds of students and special
guests, complete even to Ha
waiian dances.
Principal Ralph L. Smith
opened the evening's program
with the invocation and a wel
come to the "enchanted isle"
was offered by Herbert McKel
vey, president of the junior
class. A toast to the seniors ?
! 15 strong -was led by Miss Jo
Ann Henderson, secretary-treas
urer of the junior class. Ray
mond Ledford, senior class pres
Lident. responded. ar.d a toast
j to teachers was led by Bobby
'Vomack. Wayne Proffitt. voca
I tional agricultural teacher, re
| sponded. Thad Dowdle. senior
! class vice-president, led a toast
to the juniors.
A duet ? as Hawaiian as the
traditional grass skirt ? was
sung by Misses Jean and Joy
McCollum.
Even the menu had a touch
of the tropics ? pineapple sher
bert for dessert.
Student waitresses and wait
ers were Misses Beverly Stock
ton. Marjorie Moody, Joyce
Gribble, Dale Edwards, Ruth
Snyder. Doris Teague. and Em
ma Watson, and Crawford
Moore. Tommy Gnuse, Norman
Smith, Jerry Norton, Hugh
i Blaine, George Barrett, and
Wilbur Cabe.
? oi arr rnmto py j. r. oraay
JUNIOR MARSHALLS selected at Franklin High for scholastic standing are (i. to I) Bob
by Womack, Caroline Reece, Edna Earl Stoudemire, Kenneth Tallest, Virginia Swanson, Aat
rey Gibson, Leonard Long, and Jo Ann Henderson. _